You’ve finally gathered enough iron for a bucket. Maybe you even found a diamond or two in a shallow vein. Now you’re staring at a pool of bubbling lava, wondering if you’re actually ready to step into another dimension. Building a nether portal minecraft style isn't just about placing purple blocks in a rectangle; it’s the definitive "rite of passage" that transitions you from a mere survivor to a dimensional traveler.
Most players overthink it. They spend hours mining obsidian with a diamond pickaxe because they think that's the only way.
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It isn't.
If you’re speedrunning or just lazy, you can mold the thing like a clay pot using nothing but water and lava. Whether you’re playing on Bedrock, Java, or that weird legacy console version your cousin still has, the mechanics are basically identical. You need a frame. You need fire. You need a lot of nerve because the first thing you’ll probably hear on the other side is a Ghast screaming like a haunted tea kettle.
The Basic Math of a Nether Portal Minecraft Players Ignore
Let's talk dimensions. A standard portal is a 4x5 rectangle of obsidian. That's the classic look. You need 14 blocks of obsidian if you want to fill in the corners, but honestly? Don't do that. It’s a waste of resources. Expert players always leave the corners empty or fill them with "crying obsidian" or dirt or literally anything else. You only need 10 blocks of the purple stuff to make it work.
The minimum size is 2x3 on the inside.
But wait.
Since the "Bountiful Update" (Version 1.7.2 for the historians out there), Mojang actually let us go bigger. You can make a massive gateway up to 23x23. Why would you do this? Mostly for style, or if you’re building a gold farm that relies on zombie piglin spawning rates. If you’re just trying to get to a Fortress to find some Blaze Rods, stick to the 4x5.
How to Get Obsidian Without Breaking Your Back
You have two choices here. You can be the "traditionalist" or the "mold-builder."
The traditionalist finds a pool of lava, dumps a water bucket on it, and sits there for about 9.4 seconds per block with a Diamond or Netherite pickaxe. It’s tedious. If you’re doing this, make sure you don't let the obsidian block fall into the lava underneath it. That is the quickest way to ruin your day. Always mine a little hole next to the block you’re hitting to see what's underneath.
The mold-builder? They’re the smart ones.
You build a dirt frame in the shape of the portal. You use a bucket to pick up source blocks of lava one by one. You place the lava into your dirt mold and immediately hit it with water. Poof. Instant obsidian, right where you need it. This is how speedrunners like Dream or Illumina get to the Nether in under five minutes. It’s a skill, sure, but once you get the rhythm down, you’ll never carry a diamond pickaxe for "construction purposes" ever again.
Light It Up: The Flint and Steel Mythos
So you have the frame. It’s just a cold, dark ring of volcanic glass. To activate a nether portal minecraft requires a "block update" involving fire. Most people use Flint and Steel. It’s cheap. It works.
But what if you’re stuck?
Maybe you’re in the Nether already and a Ghast blew up your portal. You’re trapped. You have no flint. You have no iron. Don't delete the world yet. You can actually light a portal using wood and lava. If you place flammable blocks (like planks or wool) next to the portal frame and pour lava nearby, the "fire spread" mechanic can eventually ignite the portal. It’s finicky. It takes forever. But it’s a legitimate life-saver.
You can also use:
- Fire charges (dropped by Piglins or crafted).
- A Ghast’s fireball (if you’re brave enough to stand in front of the portal and dodge).
- Lightning strikes (ridiculously rare, don't count on it).
- Bed explosions (only works in the Overworld, and it'll probably kill you).
Honestly, just bring two Flint and Steels. It’s easier.
Portal Linking: The Science of Not Getting Lost
This is where things get messy.
Minecraft's coordinate system is a bit wonky. For every 1 block you travel in the Nether, you travel 8 blocks in the Overworld. This is the secret to "fast travel." If you want to connect two bases that are 800 blocks apart, you only need to walk 100 blocks in the Nether.
But the game is lazy.
When you build a nether portal minecraft tries to find an existing portal on the other side within a certain radius. If it finds one, it dumps you there. If it doesn't, it creates a new one. This often leads to "portal tangling," where two of your Overworld portals lead to the same spot in the Nether, but coming back sends you to a completely different location.
To fix this, you have to do the math.
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- Get your Overworld coordinates (X and Z).
- Divide them by 8.
- Go into the Nether and manually build a portal at those exact divided coordinates.
If you don't do this, you'll eventually end up 2,000 blocks away from home with a chest full of Glowstone and no way back. It sucks. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there.
The Dangers of the "Spawn In"
Sometimes, the game generates your portal over a massive lake of lava. Or inside a solid wall of Netherrack.
Always, always, always crouch (hold Shift) the moment you step through. The "loading terrain" screen can be deceptive. You might think you're safe, but the game has already spawned your character in. If you're not crouching, you might just walk off a ledge before the textures even load.
Also, Piglins.
They’re neutral until they aren't. Wear one piece of gold armor—boots are usually the cheapest—before you even think about building that portal. If you step through and land in a Bastion Remnant without gold on, you're going to get swarmed faster than a dropped diamond in a multiplayer lobby.
Advanced Portal Decoration and Logistics
A raw obsidian frame looks okay, I guess. It’s very 2011. If you want a base that actually looks like an expert built it, you need to hide the obsidian.
You can use stairs, slabs, and trapdoors to "tuck" the portal into a wall. Since the portal blocks themselves are translucent, you can put lights behind them to make the purple glow even more intense. Some players even use "Map Art" to create custom textures that cover the portal entirely, making it look like a magical mirror or a tear in reality.
Another tip: Surround your portal with a "security room."
Ghasts can shoot through the portal. Endermen can wander through. I once had a Creeper follow me through a portal, and it blew up my Nether hub the second I arrived. Use iron doors or fence gates. Make it a controlled environment.
Why Crying Obsidian Won't Work (Mostly)
A common mistake is trying to build a nether portal minecraft uses with Crying Obsidian. You know, the stuff that drips purple particles? It looks cool, but it won't ignite. You can use it for the corners because, as we established, the corners don't matter. But the main 10-block frame must be standard, boring, regular obsidian.
Crying obsidian is for Respawn Anchors. If you try to use it for a portal, you’re just wasting rare blocks.
Moving Forward into the Deep Red
Once your portal is active, your priority shifts. You aren't just building anymore; you're exploring.
Bring a shield. Seriously. A shield can block a Ghast fireball and send it right back at them, which is not only satisfying but an official achievement/advancement. Also, pack a few stacks of "cobblestone." Netherrack is incredibly weak. A Ghast fireball will tear through it like paper. If you’re building a bridge or a shelter, use stone. It’s blast-resistant.
Your next steps are clear:
- Locate a Nether Fortress (look for the dark red brick structures).
- Find a Warp Forest if you need Ender Pearls (it's the blue one, and it's much safer than the red one).
- Start mining at Y-level 15 if you’re hunting for Ancient Debris to get that sweet, sweet Netherite gear.
Building the portal is the easy part. Surviving long enough to get back with your loot is where the real game begins. Just remember the coordinates of your home portal. If you lose those, you're essentially starting a new life in a world made of fire and bacon.